Aid for navigation, positioning and/or orientation

ABSTRACT

An aid for navigation, positioning and/or orientation, said aid comprising a transparent plate (1) comprising a straight first edge (5); a straight second edge (7) which is at right angles against the first edge, a longitude line (4) which has been drawn on the plate (1) to parallel the first edge (5), a latitude line (6) which has been drawn on the plate (1) to parallel the second edge (7), and a position index point (3) which is located at the intersection of the longitude line and the latitude line, a latitude pointer (10) which is connected in the vicinity of the first edge (5) to be movable in direction paralleling the first edge, and longitude pointer (11) which is connected in the vicinity of the second edge (7) to be movable in direction paralleling the second edge.

Navigation is determining the position of a ship or boat and selectingcourse. The fundamental instrument of navigation is the nautical chart,on which in addition to coastlines and islands have been marked e.g.reefs, depths and buoys. Directions are determined by means of acompass. Coastal navigation is intermediate between archipelagicnavigation and deep sea navigation. It requires positioning by means ofdirection finding in addition to observation of buoys.

In positioning so-called placers are used, at least two such beingrequired. The placers may be two numeric position readings, twodirections, one direction and one sounding, a direction and a distance,or other data defining the position of the vessel. Deep sea navigationis usually radio navigation or astronomical navigation. Radio beaconsare used in aid of radio navigation. In astronomical navigation theelevation of a celestial body over the horizon and its azimuth, orcompass bearing, are found, in addition to which the precise time mustbe known. The position of the vessel can be calculated from these datawith the aid of tables.

In terrain orientation, map and compass serve as aids to find thebearing of any desired terrestrial target.

In navigation, and nowadays also in orientation on land and in roadtraffic, determination of position on the basis of the numeric positionreading furnished e.g. by radio beacons or by a satellite navigatordevice (e.g. GPS=Global Positioning System) is becoming increasinglycommon. The problem in orientation on land has been that heretofore nosuitable, easy-to-use aid has been available by which determining oflocation on the map is easily accomplished when the numeric positionreadings are known.

As aid in navigation compasses, triangular protractors, directionrulers, transport rulers, and other graduated rulers have been used. Allthese are presently employed as separate components in various tasks ofnavigation, such as determining position on the nautical chart, definingtrue bearing, defining bows bearing, defining distances, and paralleltransposition of the protractor on the nautical chart. The problem withnavigation aid of prior art is that, being separate components, they areawkward to keep at hand, and to use, in addition to which their purchaseprice is high.

The object of the invention is to eliminate the drawbacks mentioned.

The specific object of the invention is to disclose an easy-to-use aidfor navigation, positioning and/or orientation on land and on sea, whichenables determination of position on the map on the basis of numericposition readings without any compasses or the like being needed to thispurpose.

It is furthermore an object of the invention to disclose an aid fornavigation to which can be connected a desired number of ancillary partsto constitute an entity which can be handled and kept in storage as anintegral whole, and which integral entity can be used to perform thosenavigation tasks which are essential in seafaring.

As taught by the invention, the aid comprises

a transparent plate comprising a straight first edge; a straight secondedge which is at right angles to the first edge, a longitude line whichhas been drawn on the plate parallel to the first edge, a latitude linewhich has been drawn on the plate parallel to the second edge, and aposition index point which is located at the intersection of thelongitude line and the latitude line,

a latitude pointer which is connected in the vicinity of the first edgeto be movable in the direction parallel to the first edge, and

a longitude pointer which is connected in the vicinity of the secondedge to be movable in the direction parallel to the second edge.

The advantage of the invention is that with the movable latitude andlongitude pointers the position of the vessel can be determined on theterrain map or nautical chart on the basis of the numeric positionreading derived e.g. from radio beacons or from a satellite navigationdevice (e.g. GPS=Global Positioning System) without any use of specialcompasses to this purpose.

In an embodiment of the aid a 360° graduation circle has been providedon the plate, its center coinciding with the position index point, thelongitude line being parallel with the line drawn from this center tothe zero point of the graduation and with the first edge of the plate.

In an embodiment of the aid the longitude pointer is connected to theplate to be movable in the direction paralleling the second edge.

In an embodiment of the aid the aid comprises a compass, which isconnected to the plate.

In an embodiment of the aid the aid comprises a transport rulerconnected with a parallelogram mechanism beside the second edge of theplate, paralleling the second edge; and a longitude pointer which isconnected to the transport ruler.

In an embodiment of the aid the plate is substantially rectangular inshape.

In an embodiment of the aid the plate is substantially shaped like aright-angled triangle.

In an embodiment of the aid the aid comprises a bearing ruler which ispivoted to the center to be rotatable in a plane parallelling the planeof the plate.

In an embodiment of the aid the bearing ruler is provided with adistance graduation, its zero point coinciding with the center.

In an embodiment of the aid the aid comprises a set of graduated stripsprovided with distance graduations in different scales and which can bedetachably mounted on the bearing ruler. The set of graduated strips maycomprise graduated strips for all those nautical chart scales which arein use.

In an embodiment of the aid the bearing ruler and/or the graduated stripcomprises fixing means for affixing the graduated strip to the bearingruler.

In an embodiment of the aid there is on the bearing ruler, at the firstend adjacent to the center, a sight notch and at the free, other end, asight bead.

In an embodiment of the aid the plate comprises a guide in the vicinityof the first edge of the protractor and parallelling the edge, inguidance of which the latitude pointer can be moved, and the latitudeline extends from the position index point up to the first edge.

In an embodiment of the aid the plate comprises a guide in the vicinityof its second edge parallelling the edge, in guidance of which thelongitude pointer can be moved, and the longitude line extends from theposition index point up to the second edge.

In an embodiment of the aid the transport ruler comprises a second guideprovided in the vicinity of its free edge and parallelling the edge, inguidance of which the longitude pointer can be moved in a directionparallelling the second edge of the plate, i.e., in the direction of theedge of the transport ruler, and when the transport ruler is positionedagainst the second edge of the plate, the longitude line extends fromthe position index point across the transport ruler up to its edge.

In an embodiment of the aid there is an a piercing hole at the positionindex point. The hole enables markings to be made on the map and the aidto be mounted on a gunwale bearing stand.

The device being provided with one or several ancillaries, such astransport ruler and bearing ruler, the aid is easy to handle and to keepin storage as an integral entity, and the essential tasks of navigationcan be accomplished therewith, such as determination of location,various determinations of direction, and taking of bearings. The mostimportant needs of normal map work have been taken into account in theaid; therefore the use of this aid is fast and clear-cut.

In the following the invention is described in detail, referring to theattached drawing, wherein

FIG. 1 presents schematically a first embodiment of the aid of theinvention;

FIG. 2 presents schematically a second embodiment of the aid of theinvention;

FIG. 3 presents schematically a third embodiment of the aid of theinvention;

FIG. 4 presents schematically a fourth embodiment of the aid, of theinvention;

FIG. 5 resents the section III--III of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 presents the section IV--IV of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 presents the section V--V of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 resents a set of graduated strips provided with distancegraduations in various scales, for mounting on the bearing ruler,belonging to the embodiment of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 9 presents a stand to which the navigation aid of FIG. 2 or 4 canbe connected in order to use it as a so-called gunwale bearing device.

FIG. 1 depicts an aid which is intended to be used in orientation andpositioning on land. The aid comprises a transparent plate 1 ofrectangular form, comprising a straight first edge 5 and a straightsecond edge 7, this latter edge being at right angles against the firstedge. A longitude line 4 has been drawn on the plate 1 parallel to thefirst edge 5, and a latitude line 6 has been drawn on the plate 1parallel to the second edge 7. At the intersection of the longitude line4 and the latitude line 7 is the position index point 3, where a hole 25piercing the plate has been provided. The aid further comprises alatitude pointer 10, which is connected in the vicinity of the firstedge 5 to be movable in the direction parallel to the first edge 5, anda longitude pointer 11, which is connected in the vicinity of the secondedge 7 to be movable in the direction parallel to the second edge 7. Theaid may furthermore comprise a compass 38, though this is notindispensable in itself. Operation of the device takes place asdescribed in the foregoing in the context of the example relating tomarine navigation.

FIG. 2 depicts a navigation aid for use in marine navigation. The aidcomprises a protractor 1 with the shape of a right-angled triangle,which is regarded as base, or body, to which all the other parts of theaid are connected. The triangular protractor plate 1 consists oftransparent material, such as a plate of transparent plastic which hasthe shape of an isosceles right-angled triangle. In the center of theprotractor plate 1 has been drawn a circular 360° graduation 2, theangular degrees being marked both inside and outside the peripheralcircle so that in the outer circle the number of degrees increasescounter-clockwise from the zero point and on the inner circle, inopposite direction, that is clockwise. In the following, the edgeadjacent to the right angle of the protractor 1 (the cathete of theright-angled triangle) is termed the first edge 5. Correspondingly, theother edge adjacent to the right angle of the protractor 1 (the othercathete of the right-angled triangle) is termed the second edge 7.

The longitude line 4 is the line drawn from the center, 3 of thegraduation circle to the zero point, vertical in FIG. 1. The longitudeline 4 is parallel to the above-mentioned first edge 5. In the directionperpendicular against the longitude line 4 from the center 3 has in FIG.1 been drawn the horizontal so-called latitude line 6, which is parallelto the above-mentioned second edge 7. At the center 3 has been depicteda schematic representation of the vessel, 15, its bows pointing towardthe zero point of the circular graduation 2.

Furthermore, the navigation aid of FIG. 2 comprises a transport ruler 8connected to the protractor plate 1. The transport ruler 8 is connectedby means of a parallellogram mechanism 9 beside the second edge 7 of theprotractor plate 1, parallelling this edge. The parrallellogrammechanism 9 comprises two linkage arms 16 and 17 of equal length,so-called parallel axes, the distance between their pivot points 18 and19 on the protractor plate 1 equalling that of the pivot points 20 and21 on the transport ruler 8, whereby the pivot points 18,19,20,21 definea parallellogram. By action of this parallellogram mechanism 9, thetransport ruler 8 maintains at all times its parallellity with thesecond edge 7 of the protractor plate 1. By the aid of the transportruler 8, the protractor plate 1 can be moved to any point on thenautical chart, retaining its specified attitude. The use of thetransport ruler 8 in connection with navigation is not described anyfurther in this context because it belongs to the know-how of a personskilled in the art.

The latitude pointer 10 is connected in the vicinity of the first edge 5of the protractor plate 1 so that it can be reciprocatingly moved in thedirection parallel to the edge 5 and that, having been moved to a givenpoint, it stays where it has been set until it is moved once again. Ascan be seen in FIG. 1, close to the edge 5 of the protractor plate 1 hasbeen provided a guide 22 parallelling the edge 5, e.g. a slot, inguidance of which the latitude pointer 10 can be moved. The latitudeline 6 extends up to the first edge 5.

The longitude pointer 11 is connected, in the example of FIG. 2, to thetransport ruler 8 in the vicinity of its free lower edge 23 so that thepointer 11 can be moved in the direction parallel to the second edge 7of the protractor plate 1, i.e., in the direction of the lower edge 23of the transport ruler 8, and when it has been moved to a given positionit will remain where it has been set until it is moved once more. As canbe seen in FIG. 2, in the vicinity of the lower edge 23 of the transportruler 8, or the edge 23, has been provided a guide 24 parallelling theedge, e.g. a slot, in guidance of which the longitude pointer 11 can bemoved. When the transport ruler 8 is positioned against the second edge7 of the protractor plate, the longitude line 4 extends across thetransport ruler up to the edge 23.

In the simple embodiment of the aid depicted in FIG. 3 the aid comprisesno transport ruler and no bearing ruler. The longitude pointer 11 isconnected to the plate 1 to be movable in the direction parallelling thesecond edge 7. To this purpose, on the plate 1 has been provided a guide24', e.g. a slot, in the vicinity of its second edge 7 and parallellingthe edge 7, in guidance of which the longitude pointer can be moved. Thelongitude line 4 extends from the center 3 to the second edge 7. Thepointer 11 can be moved in the direction parallelling the second edge 7,and after it has been moved to a given point, it remains at the placewhere it has been set until it is moved once more. In other respects thenavigation aid of FIG. 3 corresponds to the embodiment of FIG. 2.

It is further seen from FIG. 2 that at the position index point 3, thatis at the center 3 of the circular graduation has been provided apiercing hole 25 at the virtual intersection of the latitude andlongitude lines, through which markings can be made on the map with apencil. The navigation aid of FIG. 2 furthermore comprises a bearingruler 14 connected to the center 3 of the protractor plate 1 andprovided with center line 12 and distance graduation 13. The bearingruler 14 is pivoted at the center 3 to be rotatable in a planeparallelling the plane of the protractor plate 1. The zero point of thedistance graduation 13 coincides with the center 3. The bearing ruler 14has in the middle a longitudinal slot 26.

FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of the navigation aid regarding whichreference is made to the description of the embodiment of FIG. 2 in allother respects except regarding the bearing ruler 14, which differs fromthat in the embodiment of FIG. 1.

In FIG. 4 the navigation aid comprises a bearing ruler 14 which ispivoted to the center 3 to be rotatable in a plane parallelling theplane of the protractor plate 1. The bearing ruler 14 is provided with adistance graduation 13 having its zero point at the center 3. Thedistance graduation 13 has here been provided on a graduation strip 34,which is detachably mountable on the bearing ruler 14.

In FIGS. 4 and 8 is depicted a set, belonging to the navigation aid, ofgraduation strips 34; 34¹,34²,34³,34⁴ provided with distance graduations13; 13¹,13²,13³,13⁴ in different scales, which are detachably mountableon the bearing ruler 14. The requisite number of graduation strips 13has been provided, in the present example four different graduationstrips for scales 1:20000, 1:50000, 1:150000 and 1:200000. The distancegraduation on the graduated strip 13 matches the scale of the nauticalchart in each instance. The bearing ruler 14 comprises fixing means 35for attaching the graduated strip to the bearing ruler. FIG. 7 depicts,as section V--V of FIG. 4, a fixing means consisting of flanges 35pointed towards each other and under which the graduated strip 13 ispushed in the direction longitudinal to the bearing ruler in the way ofa so-called dovetail joint.

The bearing ruler 14 carries on its first end 36 adjacent to the center3, a sight notch 33, and on the other, free end 37 a sighting bead 27 isprovided (see FIGS. 5 and 6).

In the following are briefly described the possible uses of aid of thekind presented above, in positioning and navigation. Let us assume thatfrom a navigator device, e.g. from GPS, for the position of the vesselis obtained a numeric reading, e.g. latitude N60°7'25" (North 60degrees, 7 minutes, 25 seconds) and longitude e.g. E25°23'10" (East 23degrees, 23 minutes, 10 seconds).

The nautical chart is divided into squares by lines running innorth-south direction and lines running in west-east direction e.g. at5' (five minute) spacing. One finds on the graduation on the verticalmargin of the nautical chart, the point N60°7'25" and moves thenavigation aid to this point on the graduation so that the latitude line6 becomes positioned at the reading N60°7'25" on said graduation. Next,one moves the latitude point 10 to the point corresponding to thenearest west-east latitude line, the so-called latitude parallel, on thenautical chart, i.e., to N60°5', because the grid of lines is spaced at5' on the chart.

The same procedure is applied to longitude: on the horizontal graduationof the nautical chart the point of E25°23'10" is found, and thenavigation aid is so aligned with said graduation that the longitudeline 4 coincides with the reading E25°23'10" on the graduation. Thelongitude pointer 11 is then moved on the nautical chart to the pointcorresponding to the nearest north-south longitude line, the so-calledlongitude parallel (E25°25'). The position has thus been stored in theaddress memories 10,11 of the navigation aid. The navigation aid is nextmoved to such a point on the nautical chart where the latitude pointer10 coincides with the latitude parallel N60°5' while at the same timethe longitude pointer 11 is positioned consistent with said longitudeparallel E25°25'. The position index 3 now indicates the position of thevessel on the map. One may now mark the location of the vessel on themap through the piercing hole 25 at the position index point, or thecenter 3. Positioning on land is performed in completely identicalmanner.

Turning the plate 1 in the predetermined, desired direction so that thefirst edge 5 and the longitude line 4 point in said direction enablesthe true direction of the vessel to be determined from the outerdivision of the graduated circle 2.

The bow bearing can be determined from the inner division of thegraduated circle 2, the center-line 12 of the bearing ruler 14 servingas pointer for reading degrees. Distances can be read from the distancegraduation 13 of the bearing ruler.

The longitudinal slot 26 in the middle of the bearing ruler 14, depictedin FIG. 2, enables pencil markings to be made on the map. In FIG. 4, onthe other hand, one edge of the bearing ruler 14 coincides with therespective center, and map markings can be made by tracing the edge.

FIG. 9 depicts an ancillary device by the aid of which the aid of FIGS.2 and 4 can be used as a so-called gunwale direction finder. To thispurpose, the bearing ruler 14 has on its free end, a sighting bead 27.The ancillary device comprises an arm 28 which can be fixed on astationary structure of the vessel by means of fixing members 29, in thepresent embodiment applying a dovetail joint. The arm 28 comprises aflexible part 30, which enables the arm to be inclined relative to thevessel. The arm carries on its upper end, transversally to thelongitudinal direction of the arm, a supporting plane 31 and a pin 32rising therefrom, this pin having on its end a sighting notch 33. Thenavigation aid can be mounted on the end of the arm 28 by pushing thehole 25 in the center 3 on the pin 32 while the protractor plate 1,surrounding said hole, rests with its underside on the supporting plane31.

The gunwale position finder is operated as follows. The zero point ofthe graduated circle 2 is aimed to parallel the longitudinal center-lineof the vessel, and the protractor is adjusted to be horizontal, usingthe flexible portion 30 of the arm if the vessel should not be on levelkeel but should have a list (like e.g. a sailboat). The bearing liner 14is then aimed to bear on the desired target, e.g. a lighthouse, so thatthe sighting notch 33 on the end of the pin 32 and the sighting bead 27on the end of the bearing ruler 14 are aligned. From the graduatedcircle 2 can now be read the bearing, in the embodiment of FIG. 2 at thecenter-line 12 of the bearing ruler 14 and in that of FIG. 4, at theedge of the bearing ruler 14.

The invention is not confined to concern merely the embodiment examplespresented in the foregoing: numerous modifications are feasible whilestaying within the scope of the inventive idea defined by the protectiveclaim.

I claim:
 1. An aid for navigation, positioning and orientation, characterized in that the aid comprises:a transparent plate (1) comprising a straight first edge (5), a straight second edge (7) which is at a right angle () against the first edge, a longitude line (4) which has been drawn on the plate (1) to parallel the first edge (5), a latitude line (6) which has been drawn on the plate (1) to parallel the second edge (7), and a position index point (3) which is located at the intersection of the longitude line and the latitude line, having a hole (25) piercing the plate (1); a latitude pointer (10) which is connected in the vicinity of the first edge (5) to be movable in direction parallelling the first edge; and a longitude pointer (11) which is connected in the vicinity of the second edge (7) to be movable in direction parallelling the second edge.
 2. Navigation aid according to claim 1, characterized in that on the plate has been formed a 360° graduated circle (2) of which the center coincides with the position index point (3), the longitude line (4) being parallel with the line drawn from the center (3) to the zero point of the graduated circle and with the first edge (5) of the plate.
 3. Aid according to claim 1, characterized in that the longitude pointer (11) is attached to the plate (1) to be movable in the direction parallelling the second edge (7).
 4. Aid according to claim 1, characterized in that the aid comprises a compass (38) which is connected to the plate (1).
 5. Aid according to claim 1, characterized in that the aid comprises a transport ruler (8) connected by a parallellogram mechanism (9) beside the second edge (7) of the plate to parallel the second edge, and a longitude pointer (11) connected to the transport ruler (8).
 6. Aid according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate (1) has substantially the shape of a rectangle.
 7. Aid according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate (1) has substantially the shape of a right-angled triangle.
 8. Aid according to claim 2, characterized in that the aid comprises a bearing ruler (14) pivoted to the center (3) to be turnable in a plane parallelling the plane of the protractor (1).
 9. Aid according to claim 8, characterized in that the bearing ruler (14) is provided with a distance graduation (13) having its zero point at the center (3).
 10. Aid according to claim 8, characterized in that the aid comprises a set of graduated strips (34; 34¹,34²,34³,34⁴) with distance graduations (13; 13¹,13²,13³,13⁴) in different scales which are detachably attachable to the bearing ruler (14).
 11. Aid according to claim 10, characterized in that at least one of the bearing ruler (14) and the division strip (34) comprises fixing means (35) for fixing the division strip to the bearing ruler.
 12. Aid according to any one of claim 8, characterized in that on the bearing ruler (14), at the first end (36) adjacent to the center (3) is provided a sighting notch (33) and at the free, second end (37) is provided a sighting bead (27).
 13. Aid according to any one of claim 1, characterized in that the plate (1) comprises in the vicinity of the first edge (5) of the plate, a guide (22) parallelling the edge (5), in guidance of which the latitude pointer (10) can be moved, and that the latitude line (6) extends from the position index point (3) up to the first edge (5).
 14. Aid according to any one of claim 1, characterized in that the plate (1) comprises in the vicinity of its second edge (7), a guide (24') parallelling the edge (7), in guidance of which the longitude pointer (11) can be moved, and that the longitude line (4) extends from the position index point (3) up to the second edge (7).
 15. Aid according to any one of claim 5, characterized in that the transport ruler (8) comprises a second guide (24) arranged in the vicinity of its free edge (23) and parallelling said edge (23), in guidance of which the longitude pointer (11) can be moved in the direction parallelling the second edge (7) of the plate (1), that is, in the direction of the edge (23) of the transport ruler (8), and that when the transport ruler (8) is positioned against the second edge (7) the longitude line (4) extends from the position index point (3) across the transport ruler (8) up to the edge (23). 